BC tells businesses to take down signs, changes its mind

Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 | 5:26 p.m.

Twelve businesses in Boulder City last month were abruptly ordered by the city to remove signs from their buildings, but received letters a week later telling them — never mind, it's the holidays.

The orange notices went up after Bret Caruso, the owner of Boulder Inn & Suites, who was embroiled in a sign dispute with the city, showed the City Council photos of 20 local businesses with signs he thought also violated rules.

These businesses hadn't been bothered about their signs like he was, he said.

Caruso hung a 392-square-foot sign on his hotel at Nevada Way and Date Street last spring without a city permit.

The city requires permits for signs and banners, whether they're temporary or permanent. Signs on a secondary wall may be no larger than 5 percent of the wall space or 50 square feet, according to city code.

Caruso applied for a city permit after Code Enforcement Officer Larry Markotay informed him he needed one. After the Planning Commission denied Caruso's application, he appealed to the City Council Nov. 12 and showed them the photos of the other business signs. The council said his sign could remain up, but sent him back to the commission to apply for a variance.

After the meeting, City Planner Susan Danielewicz took Caruso's list of businesses with banners, determined about half of them didn't have permits and forwarded the list to Markotay for enforcement, she said.

Last Thursday through yesterday, Markotay put notices on the businesses ordering them to take down their unpermitted signs in 10 days. Those businesses were Boulder Boats, Storage Plus, Hollywood Video, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Visiting Angels, Desert Flooring and Design Gallery, Utopia Salon, Chiarelli's Restaurant, Evan's Old Town Grille, Complete Automotive Services, Lakes Auto Service and The Boat Shop.

Many of the businesses complained, so the city sent letters today taking back its demands, saying that during the holidays, the sign ordinance allows temporary signs such as banners to hang longer, Danielewicz said.

In addition, the Planning Commission will refine the City Code's sign section, and the erstwhile signs are safe until the codes are revamped and approved by the City Council, the letters said.

Richard Assalone, who owns Chiarelli's Restaurant on Arizona Street, got a notice Tuesday to dismantle his two banners and one sign, which have been up for nine years, he said.

The notice asked him to remove or correct the signs in 10 days— but "correct" was crossed out, he said.

He told the City Council he would've appreciated a verbal warning, and noted that a city-owned building — the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power — often features a banner with no permit on file.

Matt Dettman, who owns The Boat Shop at 917 Nevada Way, said he called the city as soon as he got his notice.

In May, he hung his 3-by-4-foot sign that says "The Boat Shop" and said he was relieved he wouldn't have to fight to keep it up.

"There's the letter of the law and then the spirit and intent of the law," he said. "The city's doing the fair and prudent thing in this situation. They're not interested in making everyone's lives miserable. We're all just trying to make a living here."

Evan Lathouris, who owns Evan's Grille on Arizona Street, said he took his sign down, because it was looking worn anyway, he said.

He planned to apply for a permit to paint a similar message on the west side of his restaurant, he said.

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or cassie.tomlin@hbcpub.com.